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J. B, YBEHRENS; Car Coupling.

Patented June 4, 1867-,

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i Kiw NJUERS, PHDT iiliaitzh gems 121mm @ffirt JOHN B. BEHRENS, OF PEARL, ILLINOIS.

Letters Patent No. 65,331, dated June 4, 1867.

IMPROVED GAR-COUPLING.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. BEIIRENS, of Pearl, in the county of Pike, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and improved Car-Coupling; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the adjacent bumper-heads of two contiguous cars, illustrating my invention, taken through the line a re, fig. 2.

Figure Zis a horizontal section of the same taken through the line y y, fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

My invention has for its object to furnish an improved car-coupling, so constructed and arranged that in case of accident to any car or cars of the train, the injured cars shall uncouple themselves from the others so as not to drag all the cars with them to destruction; and it consists of the coupling formed by the combination of the ,pcculiarly constructed bumper-heads, jointed coupling-bar, spring, uncoupling lever, and rods with each other, as hereinafter more fully described.

A and B are the adjacent bumper-heads of two contiguous cars. a are rods or bars attached to the rear side of the bumper-heads, and which are bent, as shown in the drawings, so as to pass over and support the rear side or bottom of the cavity that receives the cross-head of the coupling-bar. The bars or rods 0 unite at the centre of the rear side of the bumper-heads and form the bumper-beam O. The rear sides or ends of the cavities in the bumper-heads may be made flat, as shown in the bumper-head A, or they may have a recess formed in them, as shown in the bumper-head B, to receive the cross-head of the coupling-bar when the bumperheads come together. The sides a and b of the bumper-heads are made inclined, as shown in figs. 1 and 2, so as to guide the coupling-bar into proper position for entering the cavity of the bumper-head. d and b are projcctions or arms cast or formed solid upon the sides of the bumper-heads, leaving such a space between their ends as will receive the coupling-bar, as shown in fig. 2. The front sides of the projections a and b are inclined, as shown in fig. 1, so as to guide the cross-heads of the coupling-bar into the cavity of the bumperheads. A suiticient space is left between the upper and lower sides of the projections a and If, and the upper and lower sides of the cavity in the bumper-heads, to allow the cross-head of the coupling-bar to escape or be drawn out should one or more of the cars sink or rise much below or above the level of the rest of the train. Should one or more of the cars be overturned, the cross-head of the coupling-bar would turn onequarter around and escape or be drawn out through the space between the ends of the projections a and 6 To facilitate the escape of the cross-head, in the last case mentioned, the rear corners of the ends of the projections a and b are rounded ed, as shown' in fig. 2, and the bearings of the cross-heads are made somewhat wedge-shaped, as shown in fig. 1, so that the said cross-head will be drawn out and the cars uncoupled even before the side of the overturned car has reached a horizontal position. a and b are outwardly projecting flanges formed upon the lower edge of the bumper-heads, and which serve as guides to direct the ends of the coupling-bar into the proper position for entering the cavity of the bumper-heads. D is the coupling-bar, upon the ends of which are formed cross-heads d made in the shape hereinbefore described, and which draw the cars by pressing against the inner sides of the projections a and The coupling-bar D is jointed with an elbow-joint, so that thejointed part can be raised, but cannot sink below a horizontal position. The jointed end of the bar D is held down by the spring E, one end of which is secured to the supporting-rod F, and its other end rests upon-the upper side of the jointed part of the coupling-bar D. The jointed part of the couplingbar D is raised to uncouple the cars by means of the lever G, which is pivoted to the lower end of the rod F with its free end resting against the under side of the jointed part of the coupling-bar D, and tothe other end of which is pivoted the lower end of the operating-rod H, which passes up through a guide ring, f, attached to the rod F into such a position that it may be reached and operated from the platform or top of the car, as may he desired. F is the supporting-rod, to the lower end of whichis securely attached the middle part of the coupling-bar D, and the upper end of which is bent over at right angles and secured in the staples or keepers I and J, as shown in fig. 1. The staples or keepers I and J may be attached to the top ofthe car, or to the platform, or to the truck-frame, as may be desired or convenient,

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent--- An improved car-coupling formed by the combination of the peculiarly-constructcd bumper-heads A and B, iointed eoupling-bar-D, spring E, supporting-rod F, uncoupling lever G, and operating-rod H with each other, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purposes set forth.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 26th day of February, 1867.

J. B. BEHRENS.

Witnesses:

WM. B. SMITH, L. A. GARRISON'. 

